Stitching Fun & Adventures...

 

"Bird Out of the Bag"

design by Rebekah L. Smith from her book "Wool Applique"

 

I had so much fun stitching this design!

And I am thrilled with the results!

(I tweaked the design a bit on the bird, but not much.)

 

It's fun to play with embroidery stitches for a change.

 

And adding a bit of fill under some of the appliques for dimension.

 

I thought that the back needed a little something,

so I added a little patch from the leftover wool. 

 

And added a bit of embroidery, too.

 

This past week we had stitch club at Cathy's gorgeous home.

Knowing that we were coming, she decided to decorate her mantle for Halloween.

I fell in love!

 

 

Isn't it darling?!

I love those little spider web candles - too cute.

I kept disappearing to go take another peek - so much to see!

 

Cathy has a great eye and I love how she put it all together...

 

Love those owls!

 

 

Speaking of owls, our friend Susan completed this stitch.

I know that this is in my stash and now I need to locate it!

 

 

Completely off topic, but I had to share.

Monday was our 30th wedding anniversary and I was so surprised and thrilled to receive 30 roses at work from my dear husband! I am so blessed!

 

So I am sure that you are wondering where the adventure comes in...

Well, this weekend this bag will be coming with me as the Bittersweet Sisters and I are off on another adventure! If you search on my blog for "Bittersweet Sisters", you can find out about our past adventures. Or try clicking here and be sure to click on "older posts" at the bottom to see more.

 

I'll be back to tell you all about it and have a little giveaway, too.

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

~Philippians 2:3-4

 

Blessings, Patti



Furry Fall Friends

 

"Bittersweet Gatherings"

design by Tammy Black of Scattered Seed Samplers

 

Designed as a drum pinkeep, I loved the entire design so much that I wanted to see it all at once. So it became a sawdust stuffed pillow backed with a great vintage calico that I picked up at an estate sale some time ago. 

 

I love the little orange triangles on the sides.

 

and the squirrels and bittersweet, of course :)

 

I love squirrels with their sweet faces and bushy tails. So busy this time of year working on their winter stores of provisions. We have so many in our neighborhood with all of its many mature trees.

They amuse me with their antics as long as it doesn't include eating my home grown produce :)

 

Here are a few of my favorite squirrels:

 

A vintage Steiff squirrel surrounded by chalkware acorns

in an old treen trencher with make do repair.

 

Another vintage Steiff squirrel with velvet acorns on an antique candle holder.

 

Sweet squirrel by folk artist Ginny Henson.

 

And my newest dear squirrel by Lori Ann Corelis of The Spotted Hare.

While growing up, I remember walking with my grandfather hunting for the few rare black squirrels that resided in his neighborhood. I was so thrilled a few years back to spy a few in my own neighborhood now - they brought back sweet memories.

 

Isn't that face so sweet :)

 

Who is wise and understanding among you?

 Let them show it by their good life,

by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

~James 3:13

 

Blessings, Patti

Pennies from Heaven ~ Volume 6

This past weekend I visited my parents and we celebrated Dad's birthday.

Mom also showed me her latest finishes. It's been a bit over two months and she only had two finishes to share...

The coneflower above is designed by Jan Goos of Goos Nest.

Mom's second piece isn't quite finished, but she let me share some photos :)

And now you'll know why she has only worked on two projects:

WoW! The lighting was a bit too bright, but you get the idea :)

(I'll take more pics next time when it is truly completed.)

This kit sat in my craft corner for over six years and Mom did all this incredible work in just seven weeks!

She is amazing!

Done in all Blackberry Primitives wool - the colors are perfect for Maggie Bonanomi's "Settler's Pride".

It is hard to pick a favorite block - I love them all!

As always - Mom's work is perfection.

(After we took the photos, she found a few things that she wasn't thrilled with, so she ripped out and re-sewed them.)

I'm sure that her backing/binding will be perfect as well :)

Wouldn't you love to just move right in?!

After we were done admiring Mom's masterpiece, she demonstrated her new favorite wooly gadget:

The Sizzix Big Shot! 

Sandwich together the plates, die and a few layers of wool. 

Crank the handle a few times and:

Voila! Instant pennies!

No more tracing circles on freezer paper and hand cutting each of them individually.

Now Mom is really going to be whipping out the penny rugs!

Look how many she created with scraps of wool in just minutes!

Can you guess what I'll be putting on my Christmas list this year?!

Especially after seeing all the cute dies that are available...

I'm hoping that Santa will think that I've been good this year ;)

We stopped in a few shops in town and I found a small handful of new treasures:

They absolutely did not look like this when I bought them. How lucky am I that Dad cleaned all of my purchases before I went home! They were all so rusty, tarnished, and dented that they were too extreme to even be called primitive, but Dad fixed them up for me. The thimble from England is so big that I could put two fingers in it :) The teeny tiny salt shaker is perfect for needles I'm thinking... The brass medallion is an old pocket watch fob from an Elks club and the button hook handle is made of Tigers Eye.

Thanks so much Dad for cleaning them up for me on your birthday :) 

And congratulations Mom on your beautiful masterpieces! Can't wait to see Settler's Pride completed!

O come, let us worship and bow down,

    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

For he is our God,

    and we are the people of his pasture,

    and the sheep of his hand.

~Psalm 95:6-7

Blessings, Patti

August finishes a little bit late...

Buttermilk Basin's

"Year in Stitches Collection-August" mash up with "Wool N Needle-July"

My August projects were actually finished before midnight on August 31 :)

I just didn't get a chance to post them...

Buttermilk Basin's 

Live Simply - August

Buttermilk Basin's

Basin Banner - August

bound in gold velvet

The good news is that I get to enjoy them a while longer while I start stitching up September!

Heading down for a quick visit with my parents.

Hopefully I'll have another edition of "Pennies from Heaven" to share on my return :)

For the Lord is a great God,

    and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth;

    the heights of the mountains are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it,

    and the dry land, which his hands have formed.

~Psalm 95:3-5

Blessings, Patti

September Offerings

 Greetings! I’ve been catching glimpses – early in the morning or as dusk is falling – early signs of autumn splendor! My favorite time of year will soon be here. A few early autumn leaves floating down here and there… cornhusks drying on my Indian corn… a briskness to the air as the sun is rising… and just last night a flock of nighthawks riding the air currents. One of my favorite memories is sitting with my grandfather on his front stoop watching the nighthawks swooping down to catch some tasty morsel of an insect… My offerings this month are signs of early autumn splendor as well…

 

My first offering is Early Autumn Splendor Table Mat. Based on a design by Cath’s Pennies Designs, this table mat measures approximately 8.5 by 19 inches. It features beautiful hand-dyed wool leaves that look real, but you needn’t worry about them crumbling over time. It is completely handsewn and is backed with an autumnal homespun. The edges are finished with a blanket stitch of perle cotton.

Early Autumn Splendor Table Mat is offered at $44 plus shipping.

 

 

My pinch pocket this month was inspired by the table mat. These pinch pockets are perfect for a small spool of thread, a small pair of embroidery scissors, and even a few other notions. Early Autumn Splendor Pinch Pocket measures approximately 4 inches across and 3 inches tall. Items are stored safely inside until you gently press the two corners together to open. Falling autumn leaves are stitched in hand-dyed floss to echo those lovely and unique autumn leaves that will soon be falling outside.

 

 

The pinch pocket is backed with a golden pumpkin plaid and lined in a golden pumpkin wool.

~*Sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

          If you are interested in purchasing anything, just send me an email at:

pgagliardi9@hotmail.com

I can send a PayPal invoice or I accept checks and money orders.

Hope you enjoy signs of early autumn splendor in your corner of the world!

Blessings, Patti 

Blog Tour Book Winner!

I've had so much fun being a part of the blog tour!

I think you are all as excited about Rebekah's book as I am :)

I loved reading your comments ~ and there were so many of them!

In all 107 people commented or emailed to be entered.

Using random.org, the winning entry was #78...

Judy Zarlenga!

Congratulations Judy! 

Please email me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with your mailing address and your book will be on its way!

For those of you that did not win, you may purchase this lovely book here.

 

I had hoped to be able to share my progress on this project, but alas my bird will need to be patient for a little bit longer. I am finishing up my September offerings and then hope to work on this tote bag!

Can't wait!!!

Thank you all who entered the giveaway.

I have another giveaway in mind for September of something that I created...

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

    and extol him with music and song."

~Psalm 95:1-2

Blessings, Patti

Blog Tour ~ final day

Today is the final day of the blog tour!

this week went by so quickly.

It has been a pleasure and a blessing to be a part of it!

Today's blog post is at Rebekah's very own blog ~ telling of her journey to create this lovely book.

And a final chance to win a copy along with some wool leaves...

Just click here to read and enter.

I'll be back tomorrow with the winner of my book giveaway...

Blessings, Patti